Improvement in compositors  arm-rests



'CHARLES L.`ALExANnER.

Compositors Arm-Rest.

N0.127,208. Patented May 28,1872.

' InVe-ri UNITED 'STATES CHARLES L. ALEXANDER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOSITORS ARM-RESTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,208, dated May 28,1872.

Specication describing certain Improvements in Compositors Arm-Supports,invented by CHARLES L. ALEXANDER, of the city of Vashington, iu theDistrict of Columbia.

In the drawing forming part of this specification, a is an arm-rest; b,a horizontal support; c, an elastic or nonelastic cord; d, a coiledspring or elastic cord; e, a non-elastic cord or Wire, to modify theextensibility of the part 5 f, a Work-stand; g g, uprights from theii'oor orstand; h, a set-screw.

This invention is intended to aid compositors in their labors, both insetting and distributing types; and is especially advantageous wheresmall types are set in narrow measures.

This rest, marked a in the drawing, is to be fashioned after the shapeof the arm, and should be soft and yielding on the'inside, andreticulated for the passage of air through it. It ml y be made of Wood,of metal, of vulcanized rubber, of leather, or of any desired material,and may open and close Wholly or partially by a spring or catch. Itshould be suspended from the ceiling or from a horizontal bar proceedingfrom the Wall, orfroma crosshead, b, supported by an upright or uprightssecured to the stand or to the floor. A cord or strap of leather, orstra-p of rubber, as shown at c, will serve to sustain it; but asextensibility under light strain is important, When the cord7 rope, orstrap is not Y elastic it is essential that one or more springs shall beused at the end of orintermediately in the cord or its equivalent, asshown at d. A long cord is requisite, that the hand may not varyappreciably from its vertical relation to the point of suspension.But'as the degree of extensibility must be variable, according to thechoice of each compositor, and according to the varying Weight of thestick or handful of matter, adj ustingarrangementsbecomenecessary; andhence the stiffeners e are provided; but it is obvious that other meansof equivalent effect may be used.

The object of this device may be attained by a string, pulley, andcounterpoise, but in a less efcient manner. Other discretionary meansmay also be employed. l

This invention Will doubtless be found useful in assisting the left handin several arts, as in sewing, in Watch-makin g, and in artisticpainting; and in assisting the right lia-nd, as in writin g, and incutting With scissors o1' shears.

I am awa-re that weighty tools and parts of machines have often beensuspended; but I do not contemplate such purpose, my invention relatingentirely to the relief of the arm in its labors, and the improvement ofits capabilities for better and more facile manipulations.

I hence claim- Sustaining the hand, wrist, or arm in its labors, by ayielding suspended support, sub stantially as described.

CHAS. L. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses BENJ. LIPPrNooTT, L. B. WYNNE. f

